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Huzzah! Last night, the Oscars red carpet was the most daring we have seen in years, with stars breaking free from safe bets and taking dramatic sartorial risks. Just for fun, Elizabeth Holmes shares seven of the most compelling fashion moments…
Best Trio
As soon as the iconic trio of Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took the stage of this year’s host-less Oscars, the entire world (or maybe just all of Twitter?) wondered aloud: why weren’t they the ones given the reins? Still, the three women’s dresses forecasted the range of what we were about to see: the expected, the surprises, the delights. Tina wore a classic Oscars look, a strapless blue Vera Wang gown with a hint of a train. Maya kicked it up a notch in a floral Giambattista Valli dress with a full cape, her blunt bob serving as the backdrop for those a-maz-ing statement earrings. And Amy was all Amy in a black Alberta Ferretti tuxedo — with tails! I especially loved her brooch (an accessory category that deserves a comeback IMO). Nothing about what they were wearing went together — I’m guessing there was zero coordination by their stylists ahead of time — and I love that. Do you, ladies.
Best Big Moment
Before any of the nominees set a stiletto on the red carpet, Billy Porter went and stole the whole damn show! His gender-bending ensemble, by Christian Siriano, proved there’s no need to choose between a tux and a gown. The designer told E! News that he had just a week to create the strapless dress, worn over a tuxedo shirt, as well as the double-breasted jacket on top. Props to Billy, who served as a host on ABC’s Oscars coverage, for his work navigating the red carpet in that fuller-than-full skirt. “Call me Cinder-Fella,” he wrote on Instagram. DONE.
Best Bling
OMG, yes, Lady Gaga won an Oscar. And OMFG, yes, she gave a hell of a performance with Bradley Cooper. (Are you still flushed? Because I’m still flushed.) Not to be overshadowed in all of this: that necklace! The actress wore a 128-carat Tiffany sparkler, one of the largest yellow diamonds in the world; this was only the third time it has ever been worn in public. Gaga changed gowns (both black and minimal) between the red carpet and her performance, but kept the rock, obvi. I found myself scanning for the inevitable necklace security team that you know had to be steps away from her at all times.
Best Pink Dress
Picking a favorite pink dress is like picking your favorite candy, so I’m going to cheat and celebrate two fabulous women. First up is Angela Bassett in a hot pink Reem Acra gown with an exaggerated single shoulder. And of course Dame Helen Mirren slayed in Schiaparelli, not surprising given a bold pink is the famed design house’s signature shade. I just about died when Helen — who is 73! Gah! – gave the ombré pleated skirt a twirl for the cameras.
Best Power Suit
Before the 2018 Academy Awards, I asked several top Hollywood stylists why more women didn’t wear trousers on the red carpet. Their answers varied, but all sensed a sea change and Sunday proved them right. Several women opted for pants, and my favorite, by far, was Awkwafina’s sparkly lilac DSquared ensemble. I had fallen in love with her amazing costumes in Crazy Rich Asians and had high hopes for her as a presenter last night. The extra-long flare trousers and the exaggerated pussy bow blouse made for a striking, stellar look.
Best Hair Accessory
This has been a big year for men’s red carpet fashion, with many male celebs breaking out of the bland black tux box. Sunday evening, Aquaman star Jason Momoa was an immediate standout in his dusty pink Fendi tuxedo. But it was the matching designer scrunchie — yes, a Fendi scrunchie — on his wrist that had the Internet ablaze. It was at once stylish and practical. Who among us doesn’t have a hair tie close at hand for ponytail emergencies?
Best Bow
A major trend this season has been bows — so I had a hunch we would be seeing some Sunday night. There were no hair bows (le sigh!), but we had more than one dress bowment. I was most struck by the Prada gown worn by Olivia Colman, who won best actress for her leading role in The Favourite. The oversize bow was barely visible from the front, giving off a cape-like vibe. From the back, however, it was all you could see, with its tails melting into a train. The bow was Olivia’s idea, serving as a punctuation on her surprise win and endearing AF speech. It makes me even more excited to see her take on the starring role in the next season of The Crown. Long live the Queen!
Plus, an honorable mention from Caroline:
The Set
Let us take a moment to address the stage. While rumors have been swirling that the set resembled Marilyn Monroe’s wig, or was modeled after Trump’s hair (what?), when I look at the 2019 set, I see but one thing: a massive vagina, birthing awards. To me, the resemblance is unmistakable. In the end, the Oscars stage is like a Rorschach test, allowing us all a little glimpse into the depth of our psyches. So, what did you see?
What were your favorite moments of last night? Did you watch?
P.S. The 8 real winners of the Oscars last year.
(Maya Rudolph photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. Billy Porter photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images. Lady Gaga photo by Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic via Getty Images. Angela Bassett photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP. Helen Mirren photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images. Jason Momoa photo by Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic. Awkwafina photo by Christopher Polk/Rex/Shutterstock. Kacey Musgraves photo by Steve Granitz/Getty Images. Olivia Colman photo by Jordan Strauss/AP.)
